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Department of Higher Education and Training

Metcalfe to head new education and training department

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:31

The national Cabinet has announced that former Wits Professor and Gauteng Education MEC, Mary Metcalfe has been appointed as Director General (DG) of the newly formed Department of Higher Education and Training.

Dr Blade Nzimande was appointed Minister in the new Department by President Jacob Zuma after the general election.

To date the fledgling department has been run by acting DG Dr Molapo Qhobela and has operated out of the premises of the former Department of Education at Sol Plaatjie House.

It is expected that the Department will be housed in new premises when they begin full operations, including taking operational responsibility for the skills development funcation currently run by the Department of Labour. The date of 1st November has been identified as a target date to take over this full responsibility.

According to a statement released by the Cabinet, "Ms Metcalfe brings a wealth of experience into the job and her career highlights include her role as Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) for Education in Gauteng, a renowned lecturer and most recently, she was the Head of the Wits School of Education."

The National Education and Allied Workers Union, Nehawu, was quick to support the appointment. "Metcalfe brings with her a lot of experience and aptitude in her new position and we are convinced that she will be able to meet and solve a myriad of challenges in the tertiary education sector".

"The union pledges its support to the new DG and we look forward to working with her and all the other stakeholders in addressing the challenges that face the tertiary education sector and the overall transformation project. The sector is faced with many challenges that have resulted in the disenchantment of stakeholders like workers and students especially those from the disadvantaged background."

"Many students from poor backgrounds have found it difficult to get access to tertiary institutions because of their socio-economic status and we hope that the new DG will help remove barriers that poor students face," added the union statement.

Nehawu also highlighted some of the issues that they will be raising with the new DG. "We would like to see immediate steps being taken to address the problem of outsourcing and the exploitation of workers by labour brokers in the tertiary education sector because this sector is the worst perpetrator of this kind of exploitation".

"We look forward to engaging with stakeholders and implementation of recommendations arising from the Report on Transformation, Social Cohesion and the Elimination of Discrimination in the Higher Education Sector".

"We call for the review of the Higher Education Act of 1997, especially regarding issues of institutional autonomy and academic freedom in the context of transformation in higher education".